Halloween 2010

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND

PREAS RÁITEAS THAR CEANN ARD-MHÚSAEM NA hÉIREANN

19th October 2010

Halloween at the National Museum of Ireland, 24th-31st October.

A spooky programme of events will take place at all four National Museum of Ireland sites during the Halloween period, including the Halloween Babies on Board Tour in Collins Barracks, creating bad to the bone skeletons in a Samhain workshop in Kildare Street and mask making and a Halloween party in the Country Life Museum. In the Natural History Museum some special spine-chilling items will be taken out of storage for Halloween including bones, skulls, skins and mystery object boxes.

Will you dare to visit the supposedly haunted Collins Barracks where the Irish High Crosses exhibition can be found, or the mysterious bog bodies which are on display in Kildare Street, as well as all our other fascinating exhibitions?

Notes to the Editor –

Why not visit our excellent cafes located at Collins Barracks, Kildare Street and Turlough Park where a wide selection of tasty meals, snacks and hot and cold drinks are available. The Museum Shops at Collins Barracks, Kildare Street, Merrion Street and Turlough Park offer visitors an interesting and unique range of high quality gifts this Halloween. These include books, jewellery, greeting cards and historical reproductions as well as educational and exciting gifts for children of all ages.

Admission to all exhibitions at the National Museums of Ireland is FREE.

Museum Opening Times: Tuesday – Saturday 10.00am -5.00pm

Sunday 2.00pm – 5.00pm

Closed Monday (Incl. Bank Holidays).

Listings information

Bring your babies and toddlers in Halloweencostume for some spooky, but not too scary, storiesfrom the Museum. Monthly tour for parents, grandparents or carers with pre-toddler age children. Buggies welcome! No booking required. Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

My Museum Samhain Special: Bad to the Bone

Sun 24th 3.00pm-4.00pm

Come and examine the ancient Viking bones in the National Museum and create your own bad to the bone skeleton for Samhain!No booking required. Places limited to 18 and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Samhain Tour: Viking Gods, Beliefs & Burials

Tue 26th 11.00am - 11.30am

Take this tour of the Viking Ireland Exhibition and learn more about the pagan Vikings beliefs in gods, monsters and the afterlife. No booking required.

Samhain Tour: Bog Bodies

Wed 27th 11.00am - 11.30am

Interested in mysterious bodies preserved in bogs, magic cauldrons and 2000 year old butter? Take this tour to find out more about these and more in the wonderful Kingship and Sacrifice Exhibition. No booking required.

Samhain Tour: Marvelous Mummies!

Thu 28th 11.00am - 11.30am

Learn more about the Ancient Egyptians and the unusual but creative art of mummifying the dead. No booking required.

Samhain Workshop: Bad to the Bone

Sat 30th 11.00am - 12pm

Dare yourself to examine the ancient Viking bones in the National Museum and create your own bad to the bone skeleton for Samhain. Spooky costumes are welcome! Booking required. Places limited to 15. Contact the Education Department at 01 6486332.

Public Tour: Kingship and Sacrifice

Sat 30th 3.30pm – 4.30pm

This tour of the Kingship and Sacrifice exhibition looks at Iron Age finds from bogs including the mysterious bog bodies. €2 fee. Tickets at Museum shop. No charge for children aged 16 yrs or under. No booking required.

Public Tour: Prehistoric Ireland

Sun 31st 3.30pm - 4.30pm

This tour takes a chronological look at Ireland's earliest people from the Mesolithic up to the Late Bronze Age and includes the impressive Irish Gold Collection. €2 fee. Tickets at Museum shop. No charge for children aged 16 yrs or under. No booking required.

As it's Halloween have a close encounter with our handling collection, including skulls, bones, skins and our mystery object boxes. No booking required. Due to popular demand you may have to return later to take part.

Halloween Family Tour: Monsters of the Deep

Sat 30th 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Join this tour to find out more about the monsters in Irish waters, including the Thresher Shark and the Atlantic Football Fish. No booking required.